Funeral services for Donald Ray Stephens, 84, of Washington will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, February 29, 2024 at the Wilson-Little Funeral Home Chapel. Interment will be at Hillside Cemetery in Purcell under the direction of the Wilson-Little Funeral Home in Purcell.
Mr. Stephens passed away Sunday, February 25, 2024 at Sunset Estates Nursing Home in Purcell.
Don was born on September 1, 1939, at home west of Purcell in the Fox Community. He was the second child of four children born to Curtis RB Stephens and Helen Keeler. Don’s family moved to the Washington Community in 1943. He attended Washington schools and graduated with the Class of 1958.
He married his high school sweetheart Velma Inez Qualls. After dating for three years, they were married on July 11, 1959 in Purcell. Don and Inez soon moved to Caddo, Oklahoma, where together they worked on a ranch for the next eight years, and Don was the ranch foreman. During this time, Don was a full fledge cowboy, calf roper and cattleman.
In 1967, they moved back to the Washington community and farmed and ranched with his dad. For 14-1/2 years, Don milked cows and farmed until he closed the dairy in 1982. Together, working side by side, Don and Inez continued to farm and ranch for 64 years, raising mama cows and steers.
Don was a great man of faith, a faithful Christian and was ordained as a Deacon on October 9, 1977. For over 30 years he was the church song leader at Iron Chapel Freewill Baptist Church. In his later years he attended the Lexington First Freewill Baptist Church.
Don loved being in the outdoors and enjoyed quail hunting and raising bird dogs. He will be remembered for his great sense of humor, telling jokes and how he never met a stranger.
He was preceded in death by his parents, R.B. and Helen Stephens; and one brother, Curtis Dale Stephens and wife, Norma Qualls Stephens.
He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Inez Stephens,; one son, Gary Don Stephens and wife, Mary, of Washington; one daughter, Donna Kay Reed and husband, Richard, of Washington; one brother, Brent Stephens of Blanchard; one sister, Kathie Jones and husband, Larry, of Tulsa; aunt and uncle, Carolyn and Jackie Vaughn of Washington; five grandchildren, Kayla Murphy and Mike Newton of Washington, J.R. Auwen and wife Kay of Lexington, Marisa Shea of Oklahoma City, Heather and Kyle Kenworthy of Texas, Hali and Bryan Burroughs of Texas; seven great-grandchildren, several nieces, nephews and cousins and a host of other loving relatives and friends.
The family will receive guests and relatives for a visitation from 5-7 p.m. Wednesday, February 28, 2024.
Online condolences may be made at wilsonlittle.com.
